90 percent increase in passenger air traffic to & from India

There has been an increase of around 85 per cent in services per week to/from India by foreign airlines over the past 5 years. In the summer of 2004, foreign airlines operated 711 services per week to/from India which was increased to 1315 services per week by the summer of 2009. Correspondingly, the number of passengers has risen from around 14 million to 27 million to/from India in that period. The increase is around 90 per cent.
Traffic rights for operation of international air services are specified in bilateral Air Services Agreements concluded with the various foreign countries and is part of an on-going process, depending upon traffic demand, balance of benefit to Indian carriers, overall interest of Indian economy together with diplomatic/political considerations. These agreements are based on the principles of sovereignty of nations and reciprocity, in which a balance of opportunities and benefits are paramount.
Liberal exchange of traffic rights has helped in adding capacity on international routes for benefit of the travelling public and also opening up commercial opportunities for Indian carriers.
This information was given by the Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Praful Patel in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
07/08/09 Press Information Bureau

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Categories: Foreign Aug 2009, Indian Aviation- In General Aug 2009